Raiders' Kubiak: All 3 QBs Deserve First-Team Reps
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- Fernando Mendoza went 10-for-16 for 97 yards and a touchdown across four offensive series (18 plays) in the Raiders' 27-14 preseason loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday night, earning praise from Kubiak for executing like he does in practice.
- Kirk Cousins opened the game as the starter, going 5-for-6 for 50 yards and a touchdown on his lone series, capping it with a 13-yard scoring strike to tight end Michael Mayer.
- Aidan O'Connell closed out the game in the fourth quarter as the third quarterback in the rotation.
- Klint Kubiak told reporters Friday that all three QBs "deserve first-team reps" and the coaching staff is actively building a plan to split those reps — a notable shift from his previous declaration that Cousins was the starter.
- Mendoza had practiced primarily with the second-team offense throughout training camp, receiving first-team reps only after Kubiak held Cousins and defensive end Maxx Crosby out of practice following a scuffle between the two veterans.
- Mendoza, self-described perfectionist, focused on his misthrows and misreads postgame, saying his timing and anticipation still need improvement despite the solid stat line.
Why it matters: Cousins' hold on the starting job just got visibly thinner: Kubiak publicly split first-team reps three ways only after a rookie who has rarely practiced with the starters posted a clean preseason debut. For the Raiders, the question is no longer whether Mendoza has the arm — Kubiak confirmed he executed the offense — but how long Cousins can hold off a quarterback Kubiak himself called impressive in his first game action.
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